Bathing suit

ABSTRACT

A bathing suit is disclosed comprised of discrete inner and outer garments to be worn simultaneously. The inner garment performs the function of control of the figure, whereas the outer garment performs the function of design and appearance.

United States Patent Barg 1 Nov. 13, 1973 1 BATHING SUIT 3,023,419 3/1962 Strahle 2/67 x Inventor: Herbert g, y, Pa 2,118,958 5/1931 Watinsky 2/67 [73] Assignee: True Form Foundation,,lnc., FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Darby, p 523,299 3/1956 Canada 2/67 [22] Filed: 1972 Primary Examiner-H. Hampton Hunter [21] App]. N0.: 221,901 AttorneyArthur H. Seidel et a1;

[52] u.s. Cl. 2/67 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl A41d 7/00 A bathing Suit is disclosed comprised f discrete inner [58] Field of Search 2/67, 46, 47, DIG. 6 and outer garments to be worn simultaneously The inner garment performs the function of control of the [56] References C'ted figure, whereas the outer garment performs the func- UNITED STATES PATENTS tion of design and appearance.

2,115,833 51938 W k 2,896,216 7x959 atms y 2,67 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Spewak 2/67 X BATI'IING SUIT This invention is directed to a bathing suit, and more particularly, to a bathing suit having discrete inner and outer garments. The inner garment is constructed in a manner to perform the function of providing control of the figure. The outer garment solely performs the function of design and appearance while being superimposed over the inner garment. The inner garment may be utilized in conjunction withany one of a variety of outer garments. v

Thus, the swim suit of the present invention includes inner and outer garments, each designed to perform different functions. Each of the inner and outer garments is constructed of fabric which is resistant to chlorine and salt water. Such resistance may be attained by applying to the fabric well known-chemicals designed for that purpose.

The inner and outer garments are compatible and complement one another. The inner garment is preferably a one-piece garment made from fabric which is at least in part elastic. For example, the inner garment may be a combination of nylon and Spandex. The inner garment is provided with a crotch portion which has fasteners to permit a releasable coupling adjacent to leg openings. The inner garment is preferably provided with a reinforcement panel on the front portion thereof between the crotch portion and the bust portion.

The outer garment is constructed in a manner so as to be free from any padding in the bust section and is constructed of lighter weight fabrics as compared with those utilized heretofore in connection with swim suits. Thus, the compatibility between the inner and outer garments with the inner garment performing figure control facilitates the use of lighter weight fabrics for the outer garment.

Advantages of the swim suit constructed in accordance with the presentinvention include overall cost which may be reduced since one inner garment may be used for several outer garments. The inner garment may be worn for a longer period of time without any regard to style changes. Thus, the inner garment may be worn with any one of a wide variety of styles on the outer garment. Further, removal of the outer garment does not expose the skin of the wearer as would be the case when the wearer removes her bathing suit in a public dressing room at a beach or swim club. Further, the inner garment is constructed in a manner so as to permit the wearer to perform natural body functions without removing the inner garment.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel swim suit comprised of discrete inner and outer garments It is another object of the present invention to provide a swim suit comprised of an inner garment for performing a figure control function and an outer garment which does not perform any figure control function.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a swim suit having the advantages set forth above.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of the swim suit of the present invention, with the outer garment partially broken away to illustrate the inner garment.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the inner garment.

FIG. 3 is a rear elevation view of the inner garment.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of one embodiment of overlapping shoulder straps on the inner and outer garments.

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of another embodiment of overlapping shoulder straps on the inner and outer garments.

FIG. 6 is a partial view of another embodiment of the overlapping shoulder straps on the inner and outer garments.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein like numerals are utilized to indicate like elements, there is shown in FIG. 1 a swim suit in accordance with the present invention designated generally as 10. The swim suit 10 includes an outer garment which does not perform any figure control function and is comprised of a chlorine and salt water resistant lightweight fabric having a body portion 14 and a skirt portion 16. The body portion 14 includes shoulder straps l8 and 20.

The outer garment 14 is intended to be worn over an inner garment 22. The inner garment 22 is shown more clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3. The inner garment 22 is preferably made from material which is at least in part elastic and may be comprised of 80 percent nylon and percent Spandex. Other materials may be utilized for the inner garment 22. The inner garment 22 includes a body portion 24 having a front panel 23 sewn along its side edges by stitching at seams 27 to a rear panel 25. Panel 25 extends from one seam 27 around the entire garment to the other seam 27. Thus, the one piece inner garment 22 is comprised of only two panels except for the bust portion.

The bust portion of the inner garment 22 includes panels 26 and 28, which together define a brassiere cup, the'periphery of which is defined by the stitching 29. The bust cup may be provided with a lining material or padding, as desired. The shoulder straps on the inner garment 22 are identified as 30' and 31.

The shoulder straps on the inner garment 22 are narrower than the shoulder straps onthe outer garment 12. In order to couple the overlapping shoulder straps and conceal the shoulder straps on the inner garment, any suitable device may be utilized-to perform this function. For example, the shoulder strap 18 is adapted to overlie and be releasably coupled to the shoulder strap 31 by means of the snap'fastener 32. Alternatively, this may be accomplished by cooperating velcro (trademark) portions as shown in FIG. 5 wherein the straps are identified with primed numerals. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6; the strap 31" on the inner garment may extend through a separable loop 35 on the inner surface of'the outer garment strap 18''. The ends of loop 35 may be releasably interconnected in any convenient manner such as by a button and hole,

As pointed out above, the purpose of the inner garment is to perform figure control on the wearer. In part, figure control is attained by means of the bust panels 26 and 28. In addition, figure control is attained in part by the reinforcing panel 40. The reinforcing panel 40 is stitched to the lower periphery of the bust panels 28 by means of stitching 42 and 44. The side edges of the reinforcing panel 40 are joined to the front panel 23 by means of the stitching 27. The lower end of the reinforcing panel 40 is joined to the front panel 23 by means of the stitching 46 and 48. The provision of the reinforcing panel 40 provides less give in the front of the inner garment. The panel 40 is constructed from the same material as the remainder of the inner garment 22 so that there is some elasticity in vertical and horizontal directions.

Thus, there has been disclosed a two-piece swim suit comprised of a one-piece inner garment and a onepiece outer garment. The inner garment provides good control and will provide a better shape for the figure of the wearer by using fabrics to perform independent functions, namely control by the inner garment while the outer garment is primarily designed for color, design, and appearance. Moreover, it is now possible to make individual sizes to fit all figures easily, which is very difficult in connection with conventional swimwear, because of the large stock required and the additional expense.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing fromthe spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A swim suit comprising a discrete functional inner garment and a stylish outer garment, each garment having shoulder straps, each shoulder strap on the outer garment'overlying and being wider than a shoulder strap on the inner garment, the outer garment being at least as long as the inner garment, said outer garment being free from any padding in the bust section, said outer garment being made from a material different from the material of the inner garment with the material of each garment being resistant to chlorine and salt water, said inner garment having a built-in brassiere portion at its bust section, said inner garment being made at least in part from elastic material and having two crotch portions between leg openings thereon, fastener means, said fastener means releasably interconnecting said crotch portions.

2. A swim suit in accordance with claim 1 including fastener means releasably coupling the shoulder straps on the outer garment to their mating shoulder straps on the inner garment.

3. A swim suit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said inner garment has a reinforcing panel in a front center portion thereof and joined to a front panel, said inner garment being comprised of said front panel and a rear panel having its side edges connected to said front panel.

4. A swim suit in accordance with Claim 1 wherein said crotch portion includes a crotch piece which partially defines said leg openings. I

5. A swim suit comprising a discrete functional inner garment for figure control and a stylish outer garment, each garment having shoulder straps, the shoulder straps of the outer garment being wider than the shoulder straps on the inner garment, means releasably coupling each shoulder strap on the outer garment to a mating shoulder strap on the inner garment, said outer garment being made from a material different from the material of the inner garment, each of said garments being madefrom a fabric resistant to chlorine and salt water, said inner garment having a built-in brassiere portion at its bust section, said inner garment having a reinforcing panel stitched to the lower periphery of the bust panels and reinforcing the front of the inner garment so as to have less give than the remainder of the inner garment, said inner garment being made at least in part of elastic material and having a crotch portion between leg openings thereon, and said outer garment being longer than said inner garment, whereby the inner garment performs the function of figure control while the outer garment is stylish and the garments being separate from one another so that they are applied independent of one another to the body of the wearer.

6. A swim suit in accordance with claim 5 wherein a crotch portion on said inner garment includes a crotch piece releasably connected to the lower end of said front panel by means of fasteners.

7. A swim suit in accordance with claim 5 wherein the shoulder straps on the inner and outer garments are coupled together by snap fasteners.

8. A swim suit in accordance with claim 5 wherein each shoulder strap on the inner garment extends through a loop on the mating shoulder of the outer garment.

9. A swim suit in accordance with claim 5 wherein the shoulder straps on the inner and outer garments are releasably coupled together by a plurality of discrete hair-like coupling members. 

1. A swim suit comprising a discrete functional inner garment and a stylish outer garment, each garment having shoulder straps, each shoulder strap on the outer garment overlying and being wider than a shoulder strap on the inner garment, the outer garment being at least as long as the inner garment, said outer garment being free from any padding in the bust section, said outer garment being made from a material different from the material of the inner garment with the material of each garment being resistant to chlorine and salt water, said inner garment having a built-in brassiere portion at its bust section, said inner garment being made at least in part from elastic material and having two crotch portions between leg openings thereon, fastener means, said fastener means releasably interconnecting said crotch portions.
 2. A swim suit in accordance with claim 1 including fastener means releasably coupling the shoulder straps on the outer garment to their mating shoulder straps on the inner garment.
 3. A swim suit in accordance with claim 1 wherein said inner garment has a reinforcing panel in a front center portion thereof and joined to a front panel, said inner garment being comprised of said front panel and a rear panel having its side edges connected to said front panel.
 4. A swim suit in accordance with Claim 1 wherein said crotch portion includes a crotch piece which partially defines said leg openings.
 5. A swim suit comprising a discrete functional inner garment for figure control and a stylish outer garment, each garment having shoulder straps, the shoulder straps of the outer garment being wider than the shoulder straps on the inner garment, means releasably coupling each shoulder strap on the outer garment to a mating shoulder strap on the inner garment, said outer garment being made from a material different from the material of the inner garment, each of said garments being made from a fabric resistant to chlorine and salt water, said inner garment having a built-in brassiere portion at its bust section, said inner garment having a reinforcing panel stitched to the lower periphery of the bust panels and reinforcing the front of the inner garment so as to have less give than the remainder of the inner garment, said inner garment being made at least in part of elastic material and having a crotch portion between leg openings thereon, and said outer garment being longer than said inner garment, whereby the inner garment performs the function of figure control while the outer garment is stylish and the garments being separate from one another so that they are applied independent of one another to the body of the wearer.
 6. A swim suit in accordance with claim 5 wherein a crotch portion on said inner garment includes a crotch piece releaSably connected to the lower end of said front panel by means of fasteners.
 7. A swim suit in accordance with claim 5 wherein the shoulder straps on the inner and outer garments are coupled together by snap fasteners.
 8. A swim suit in accordance with claim 5 wherein each shoulder strap on the inner garment extends through a loop on the mating shoulder of the outer garment.
 9. A swim suit in accordance with claim 5 wherein the shoulder straps on the inner and outer garments are releasably coupled together by a plurality of discrete hair-like coupling members. 